Monday, 22 June 2015

Soviet Explosive Ordnance - 107mm and 160mm Mortar Rounds

The 107mm mortar rounds described in the manual are all for the mountain-pack regimental mortar of the same caliber, and should not be confused with the 120mm regimental mortars in the next update.

107mm Mortar Shell, Frag-HE, OF-841

This steel fragmentation high-explosive shell (light), OF-841, is fired from the 107mm mountain-pack regimental mortar M1938. The complete round consists of five components:

(1) A point detonating fuze,

(2) an explosive-filled thin-walled steel shell body,

(3) a fin assembly,

(4) an ignition cartridge, and

(5) propellent increments which may be adjusted for zone firing.

The OF-841 is supplied with propellent increments and ignition cartridges which are for use in the 107mm mountain-pack regimental mortar M1938 only; however, the OF-841A, OF-841T and D-841 are supplied with propellent increments and ignition cartridges designed for use with 120mm mortar rounds in the 120mm regimental mortar, as well as with the propellent increments and ignition cartridges for the 107mm mountain-pack regimental mortar. Firing tables indicate that the OF-841 can be fired only with 107mm Charges 1 and 3.

The GVMZ and GVMZ-1 fuzes are used in this shell.

Characteristics

Caliber: 107mm (4.21 in)

Weight of complete round: 7.90kg (17.42 lbs)

Weight of propellant: 0.1kg (0.223 lb)

Type of filler: Schneiderite/TNT

Weight of filler: 2.1kg (4.63 lbs)

Maximum number of increments: 3

Packaging

The illustrated packing box has a capacity of four fuzed 107mm fragmentation high-explosive mortar shells, OF-841. The box is of sturdy construction, usually of a soft wood, with corners dovetailed or reinforced by metal straps or angles.The shells are held in place by contour blocking.

These rounds, as packed, need only be equipped with the propellent increments to be ready for firing. The propellent increments are packed separately (in airtight metal cans or waxed cardboard cartons) within the wooden packing box that holds the rounds and must be affixed to the rounds prior to firing.

107mm Mortar Shell, Frag-HE, OF-841A

This cast iron (ЧУГУННАЯ) fragmentation high-explosive shell, OF-841A, is fired from the 107mm mountain-pack regimental mortar M1938. It can be distinguished from the steel (СТАЛЬНАЯ) fragmentation high-explosive mortar shell, OF-841T, by the "A" at the end of the code number, and by a half-inch-wide black band just forward of the fin assembly. The location of the black band also distinguishes this shell from the smoke shell, D-841.

In other respects, this round is similar to the OF-841T and the D-841. Dimensions are approximately the same, and the same propellent increments, ignition cartridges, and fuzes (GVMZ and GVMZ-1) are used.

Characteristics

Caliber: 107mm (4.21 in)

Weight of complete round: 8.76kg (19.31 lbs)

Weight of propellant: ?kg (? lb)

Type of filler: TNT

Weight of filler: 1.15kg (2.54 lbs)

Maximum number of increments: 4

Packaging

The illustrated packing box holds four unfuzed 107mm mortar shells, OF-841A, and separately packed ignition cartridges and propellent increments. This box is similar in construction to the box in which the OF-841T mortar shells are packed, and the rounds are packed in a similar manner.

Fuze wells in the OF-841A are closed with plastic plugs; the fuzes are packed in separate boxes.

107mm Mortar Shell, Frag-HE, OF-841T

This steel fragmentation high-explosive shell (heavy), OF-841T, is fired from the 107mm mountain-pack regimental mortar M1938. It is similar in appearance to the OF-841, but is longer and heavier.

The OF-841T, like the OF-841, has a powerful high-explosive filler. Its blast is effective against field fortifications, buildings, materiel, and other objects, as well as personnel.

The OF-841T used the propellent increments and ignition cartridges designed for use with 120mm mortar shells in the 120mm regimental mortar, as well as the propellent increments and ignition cartridges for the 107mm mountain-pack regimental mortars. A maximum of four 120mm increments (Charge 4) can be fired.

The GVMZ and GVMZ-1 fuzes are used with this round.

Characteristics

Caliber: 107mm (4.21 in)

Weight of complete round: 9kg (19.84 lbs)

Weight of propellant: ?kg (? lb)

Type of filler: TNT

Weight of filler: 1.98kg (4.37 lbs)

Maximum number of increments: 4

Packaging

The illustrated packing box has a capacity of four fuzed 107mm fragmentation high-explosive mortar shells, OF-841T. The box is of sturdy construction, usually of a soft wood, with corners dovetailed or reinforced by metal straps or angles. The shells are held in place by contour blocking.

The packed rounds are ready for firing except for propellent increments. The propellent increments, which are packed in airtight metal cans or waxed cardboard cartons, are inclosed in the same wooden packing box with the shells. They must be affixed to the round prior to firing.

107mm Mortar Shell, Smoke, D-841

This smoke mortar shell, D-841, is fired from the 107mm mountain-pack regimental mortar M1938. It is similar in appearance to the OF-841T and OF-841A shells, but it can be distinguished from them by the "Д" (D) beginning the code number and by a 0.6 inch, wide black band located 0.6 inches below the gas check bands.

The steel shell body is filled with a smoke composition (usually yellow phosphorus) and with a burster charge which is designed to explode the shell body and scatter the smoke composition. The phosphorus ignites and burns spontaneously upon contact with the air, and this fire is difficult to extinguish. This round uses the same propellants, ignition cartridges, and fuzes (GVMZ and GVMZ-1) as the OF-841T.

The smoke mortar shell, D-841, is used primarily as a screening agent, but it is of further tactical importance against personnel and material because of its fragmentation and incendiary effect.

Characteristics

Caliber: 107mm (4.21 in)

Weight of complete round: 9.4kg (20.72 lbs)

Weight of propellant: ?kg (? lb)

Type of filler: Phosphorus and explosive

Weight of filler:

-Bursting Charge: 0.207kg (0.46 lb)

-Smoke Composition: 1.82kg (4.01 lbs)

Maximum number of increments: 4

Packaging

The illustrated packing box has a capacity of four fuzed 107mm
fragmentation high-explosive mortar shells, D-841, plus a sufficient number of ignition cartridges and propellent increments for all zones of fire. The box is of
sturdy construction, usually of a soft wood, with corners dovetailed or
reinforced by metal straps or angles. The shells are held in place by
contour blocking.

Ignition cartridges and propellent increments are packed in airtight metal cans or cardboard cartons and inclosed in the wooden box, to be affixed to the shell prior to firing. Fuze wells in the mortar shells are sealed with plastic plugs. The fuzes are packed in separate boxes.

160mm Mortar Shell, HE, F-852

The shell illustrated is the high-explosive shell, F-852, which is fired from the 160mm divisional mortar M1943. It is similar in appearance and construction to other Soviet large-caliber mortar shells, but it is approximately twice as heavy as the shells of the next largest caliber. It is used primarily for demolition purposes.

This round consists of the usual five components: (1) A point detonating fuze, (2) a steel shell body filled with HE, (3) a fin assembly, (4) an ignition cartridge, and (5) propellent increments which can be adjusted for zone firing.

The fuze model for this round is not known, although there is some documentary evidence indicating the use of the M-1 fuze.

It is assumed that markings on this round would conform to the standard marking system for other Soviet mortar rounds and would include such data as the type of filler, filling factory, lot number and year filled, ccaliber, code number, and weight classification.

Characteristics

Caliber: 160mm (6.3 in)

Weight of complete round: 40.08kg (88.18 lbs)

Weight of propellant: ?kg (? lb)

Type of filler: ? (High-Explosive)

Weight of filler: ?kg (? lbs)

Maximum number of increments: ?

Packaging

No illustration available

There is no available packaging data on the 160mm mortar ammunition. It is assumed that boxes for this ammunition are constructed in the same manner as other large-caliber mortar ammunition boxes; but, because the weight of the shell, the packing box probably contains only one round, one fuze, and one set of propellent charges.